Recently there has been much talk – in the press, on social media, and at rallies – about civil society and nongovernmental organizations. They often refer to the situation of NGOs in the United States.

American civil society organizations have been around for a long time, in fact they predate the U.S. government.
Immigrants to America have been organizing themselves and creating nongovernmental organizations long before the United States gained its independence. In his distinguished two-volume treatise on American life, published in 1835-1840 under the title Democracy in America, the famous French politician Alexis de Tocqueville noted the following: “As soon as a few people in the United States come up with some idea which they want to promote, they begin to look for each other, and as soon as they manage to make contact with each other, they unite. From that point on they are no longer loners, but a visible force whose work is an example to others and whose words will be heard.

Today there are about a million and a half million community organizations in the United States.

These independent, voluntary unions of people help assert individual freedom while maintaining a sustainable social order. We call it “civil society,” but that term does not capture the diversity of organizations, the momentum and energy of citizens who come together to solve a social problem or address a pressing need. Though strangers start a movement toward a common goal, they often come from the same neighborhood, church, union, business partnership or youth group. They interact with each other, negotiate, resolve differences, fight for a common cause and try to convince society and government of their rightness – all without any control from the state. In this way, civil society fosters unity and solidarity through the activism of citizens.

Through non-governmental organizations, Americans unite to solve local problems, such as keeping children safe on the roads, reducing crime, improving schools (in the U.S. local governments are responsible for education), increasing transparency in local government, etc.

CBOs also work on national issues such as health care reform and immigration law reform. Some U.S. civic organizations try to address global issues, such as organizations like the Association for Arms Control or the Global Women’s Fund.